The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-05-25
Letter from A. L. Ii.

Household Sisters Where are you
all? | am glad to see the new names,
but | miss the old ones. | believe it is
the way TO answer questions first, so
will say to those who have asked why |
do not write more that it is because
l knew there were so many who could
do so much better that / would not fill
up the little space allotted to us with
such poor matter as / could furnish.
But if the many who might do well
will do nothing, then we who cannot
do as well must do the best we can, or
give up the whole floor to the gentle
men. l am very glad we are to hear
from professional nurse" so few of
us know as much as we ought about
caring for the sick; as new diseases
and old ones, too-receive such differ
ent medical treatment from what they
did years ago, so the ways of nursing
have changed. a good physician said
to me, not long ago, that the greatest
trouble is that people do not know how
to take care of their sick" And | have
it from good authority that 9" a good
nurse and an ordinary physician are
better than poor nurse and an extra
ordinary physician" While we should
learn all we can about caring for the
sick, we should also learn all we can as
to how to keep from getting sick. The
old saying is that san ounce of pre-
vention is worth pound of cure"
think it is worth great many pounds.
| know there would not be one-half the
sickness and disease there is if people
would only try to learn how to keep
well. If the sisters who think they
must have some tonic to help them
through the spring would take more
sunlight and fresh air, believe it would
have a more permanent effect than the
tonic, and surely it is more pleasant to
take. | am sure one great reason why
girls as general thing are not as strong
and healthy as boys is because they
grow too much in the shade. l believe
if girls were dressed as they should be,
were taught how to take care of them
selves and brought up to an active out
door life, they would be as we'll and
strong as their brothers, to say nothing
of the added strength and happiness to
be gained for after years. BY this do
not mean that they are not to work in
the house at all. 1 think girls-and
boys, too-should each have their little
work, to help mother, and as they grow
older of course their duties increase.
But there is such thing as young girls
working too hard Mothers, you must
teach the children to help you (not say,
can do it quicker y and then 60 out
with them. Some will say they have
not time, but l heard of middle-aged
lady, few days ago, who has never had
days sickness, except at the birth of
her children. She has always had a
garden of her own and taken care of
it. Her children number eleven.
think she must have taken them out
with her, which is just as it should be.
Now if she could get time for outdoor
work any one can. 1t is mystery to
me how any one can stay in the house
these bright, beautiful May days, which
we all ought to appreciate after the long
months of snow. Almost every one
likes flowers; and who can help loving
to work among them if they do not care
for other work or think it beneath them?
But | claim that it is no disgrace to
any woman to have a light hoe and
know how to use it in the garden.
OF course one not used to this kind of
work will have to begin with very little
at time, as too much of good thing
at first would spoil the whole. How
many have pure air by night as well as
day? 1t is just as essential. A few
years ago would have colds from fall
until spring, and very often through
the summer. Now | seldom have
cold, and there are few nights during
the year that the window of my cham
Der is closed. But any one used to
sleeping in alright rooms would not
want to take the windows all out the
first night. Raise one by degrees, and
to secure the best ventilation lower one
at the top as well. The best physicians
are coming to have diminished conf
dence in medicine and to place greater
dependence upon sanitary and hygienic
measures for the prevention and cure
of disease. If we would get well and
keep well there are many things which
we need to learn with regard to diet,
bathing-and last, but not least, dress.